Viridine, Home Of The Brave out to impress Everest slot holders

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THE final two slots in the $13 million The TAB Everest field could be determined by results at Rosehill Gardens and Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Owners Max Whitby and Neil Werrett share a slot and need to select their Everest runner, as does the Australian Turf Club for its slot.

There is no shortage of candidates racing Saturday with the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill shaping as a vital race.

Gerald Ryan’s super sprinter and The Everest favourite Trapeze Artist is a confirmed Theo Marks starter and his presence in the field will be a good test for fringe Everest contender, Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave.

Camera IconTrapeze Artist is the favourite for the TAB Everest.Picture: AAP

Earlier this week, Godolphin trainer James Cummings announced that Kementari would not be set for The Everest and just as it seemed likely the stable would be without a runner in the world’s richest turf race, they have two sprinters making an 11th hour bid to gain a start.

Home Of The Brave needs to win the Theo Marks Stakes convincingly to get into the Everest mix and the situation is similar for Viridine, who clashes with Nature Strip and Shoals in the Group 2 $200,000 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Former English sprinter Home Of The Brave made an encouraging Australian debut when second to Voodoo Lad in the Aurie’s Star Handicap at Flemington a month ago.

“He’s been given time to recover from a solid first-up effort where he was running at a good speed all the way and was still finding something on the line,’’ Cummings said.

Camera IconViridine has form around Everest contenders In Her Time and English.Picture: Getty Images

“The winner has raced well since, but more importantly, Home Of The Brave looks to have tightened up a little bit. He makes his own running, so it’s important to have him fit with the gap between runs. He’s not overly robust, but he’s very quick on his feet.”

Viridine showed his big-race talent during the autumn when third to Everest starters In Her Time and English in the Group 1 The Galaxy so his clash with boom sprinter Nature Strip and Shoals at Moonee Valley will be compelling.

Cummings believes Viridine is “set to run very well first-up” in the McEwen Stakes.

“He’s been strong throughout his preliminaries, he’s had a patient build-up and he’ll test himself here at a good level,’’ he said. “But he’s no stranger to tough opposition having raced against the likes of Redzel, English and In Her Time last campaign.”

Nature Strip is hot favourite for the McEwen Stakes, which he simply must win convincingly to secure an Everest slot.

Camera IconNature Strip is pushing hard for a slot in The Everest.Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Darren Weir already has Brave Smash in The Everest field but he has been pushing the case for Nature Strip, rating the four-year-old as potentially the best sprinter he has trained.

Shoals, a three-time Group 1 winner, resumes in the McEwen Stakes with trainer Anthony Freedman likely to give the mare another race before the Everest at Royal Randwick on October 13.